Facebook Soccer? Facebook Partners with Univision to Stream Liga MX Soccer Games

Facebook is setting their eyes on live sports. Via a partnership with Univision, Facebook will begin streaming 46 games from Mexico’s soccer league, Liga MX to Facebook users in the United States.

“Now Facebook represents the next wave of TV and, given its scale, they are an ideal partner to distribute our Liga MX matches in English,” said Tonia O’Connor, Univision’s president of content distribution stated in a statement.

Univision’s deal with Facebook will allow for the network to reach a new and younger audience as well as experimenting with live sports on a social media platform. Also, it could help expand into a new market as the game will be available in English.

The games will first launch this Sunday and will continue through the playoffs. However, the games will not feature ads. But, this may not last forever. Facebook is currently experimenting with commercial breaks within live videos. As a result, Facebook will begin to split the advertising revenue with their partners.

Facebook’s Dan Reed said in a statement, “Sports are inherently social, with the power to build and connect communities around the world. This aligns closely with our mission, and we feel Facebook is a natural home for sports content, including live games.”

“We plan to bring fans more live games from a variety of sports in the Video tab, and will collaborate closely with our partners to do so in a way that supports their business goals,” Reed added.

To access and watch the games, users can just click Facebook’s video tab.

Facebook’s partnership with Univision is not the social media company’s first foray into live sports. Last summer, Facebook streamed several U.S. basketball games and a soccer match between Manchester United and Everton.

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CHIANGMAI, THAILAND – MARCH 22, 2016: Photo of iPhone device with Twitter app running (GongTo / Shutterstock, Inc.)

Facebook is not the only social media company interested in streaming sports live. Twitter announced premium live video by obtaining the rights to 10 NFL Thursday night games. Since then, Twitter has landed deals with the NBA for two original programs, the NHL for weekly games, and the MLB for several weekly games.